Go Kan Ryu Karate

[Harkon72]

GKR get a good blasting of poor reputation, but the sad thing is, they are not the only ones that fit this unfortunate model. I know we don't like to admit it, but there are countless schools of martial arts that follow this business pattern now, all over the world. Martial arts is big business, it's hugely profitable in the right market. I know of a few good instructors that have been seduced by the dream of making a fortune; and some have and some do. The victim is not always the parent who is chased over the phone from a different country because their monthly payment was late, it's the art itself. Some seem to want to chase the newest trend, sadly where the money is. Look for a school with a real tradition behind it, it can be any martial art, and they are out there thankfully. My Sensei thinks that making a living from your spiritual path is not quite right, he believes that you lose the essence of what you started and where you are going. I can say that I agree with him.

[mal103]

The true test would be if you removed all money from the equation and see who would be willing to carry on teaching/training...

[Hawkmoon]

harkon72 & mal103

Yes.

There are many many ... schools ... that are just the same both in structure, foundations and approach.

I have to agree with the driving factor being money,and as you say mal103 remove that factor, what happens next?

I do not doubt that there are a few good schools in this mix, and I do not doubt there are a few diamonds in the rough that attend them as well.

There is some credit to be had with these if they able to get space to grow and breath!

In the reverse I have seen and been on the receiving end of 'the establishment' who look at you as if a poor relation or some kind of underling when you do announce who or what you stem or represent.

I refer to my dalliance with other systems, before I return to full time training.

One class actually snorted when I said what I did, and then stood me in-front of there 6 BBs.

 

.. I was sat down 3 times, before I truly understood and accepted what was happening, I was all mixed up with honor and respect before I realized they had no respect for me and what I represented.

 

At the time I actually though they wanted me to prove myself to them ... so I did, I was stopped before the forth contest was concluded with a request to not go to heavy ....

[guird]

I don't see being profit-driven as a bad thing in itself. A school can be entirely profit-driven but still offer great instruction.

It's only a problem when it goes at the expense of the quality of training. And GKR has a number of infamous practices to increase their profits that water down the instruction. I've also heard about worse, but I haven't heard those confirmed by current members.

[sensei8]

I've never meet a business that didn't want to make a profit. Even non-profit want to make a profit. There's nothing wrong with a MA school wanting to make a profit because that's why they opened up their doors...to make profit!!

How a school of the MA makes its profit, well, that's another thing. Some are well intended and others are not!!

[Sanzinsoo]

If you say to your Japanese friend, your style of karate is "Go Kan" style, he or she must be quite embarrassed. In Japanese, "go kan" means to rape.

[sensei8]

If you say to your Japanese friend, your style of karate is "Go Kan" style, he or she must be quite embarrassed. In Japanese, "go kan" means to rape.

Just wondering outloud...is that the only definition of "Go Kan" in Japanese?

[mal103]

If you say to your Japanese friend, your style of karate is "Go Kan" style, he or she must be quite embarrassed. In Japanese, "go kan" means to rape.

That made me smile... thanks!

I often wonder about a lot of the "Western" Japanese that we use, I found out that KIAI is closer to the meaning "to shout", how stupid do we look when we start out shouting KIAI, it's the same as doing 3 stepping punches (for example) and shouting "SHOUT!" on the last one....

I'm sure that "block" has been over used as well.

[Harkon72]

Oh yes mal, that's one of my pet little funny things about martial arts, fake kiai. People say and utter the funniest things; from saying the word "Kiai" to making grunting and coughing noises. The best one I have heard is at a local Shotokan club; they shout "Tai Ho!!!" at each kiai point, it's hilarious; otherwise they are a fantastic club; someone should tell them. Then again, each to their own.

[sensei8]

Oh yes mal, that's one of my pet little funny things about martial arts, fake kiai. People say and utter the funniest things; from saying the word "Kiai" to making grunting and coughing noises. The best one I have heard is at a local Shotokan club; they shout "Tai Ho!!!" at each kiai point, it's hilarious; otherwise they are a fantastic club; someone should tell them. Then again, each to their own.

If they understood, truly, understood kiai, they wouldn't do all those silly and long drawn out and the like type of kiai!! Their kiai would take on a different meaning in their MA life.